Rabbi Yisroel Halpern, called Rabbi Yisroel Karduner after his town of Kardan in Poland, was born around 1867 (1850 according to other sources) into a family of wealthy merchants opposed to Chassidism. He helped his father, Rabbi Yehuda, run the family business, but his heart burned with longing to draw close to God.

In 1889 a chance reading of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov's Tikkun HaKlali transformed his life. Wishing to go to Breslov, he arrived by mistake in Braslav, Belarus, a town of opponents, before reaching Breslov in Ukraine. He was sent to Rabbi Nachman of Tcherin, who directed him to his relative by marriage, Rabbi Moshe Breslover, a disciple of Reb Noson; he became his foremost student, and his name spread among the Breslov Chassidim, of whom he was a leading figure of the fourth generation.

He moved to the Land of Israel and lived in Safed, serving God with intense fervour. Many were drawn to Breslov on hearing him pray and sing; several Breslov melodies are attributed to him. He brought many close to Breslov, including Rabbi Yisroel Dov Ber Odesser, whose teacher he was, and reprinted several Breslov books. Many regarded him as one of the thirty-six hidden tzaddikim.

He passed away on 9 Cheshvan 5679 (1918).